Bushiri Likely to Avoid Extradition as Documents Go Missing in Malawi — Accountant Faces Perjury Claims

The Star

3 days ago

Sifiso Mahlangu | Updated 6 hours ago
Controversial Prophet Shepherd Bushiri may never face justice in South Africa after key extradition documents mysteriously vanished in Malawi. The development has cast serious doubt over the upcoming September hearing, raising fears that the prophet — who fled the country while out on bail in 2020 — could permanently escape prosecution.
At the same time, his former accountant, Landiwe Ntlokwana, is at the centre of a legal storm of her own. Once a trusted insider in Bushiri's financial operations, she now faces possible charges of perjury and defeating the ends of justice.
South African authorities have been trying to extradite Bushiri and his wife Mary since they violated their bail conditions and escaped the country under murky circumstances. They face multiple charges, including fraud and money laundering. The extradition case was due to be heard in Lilongwe's High Court in September. But reports suggest the documents required to proceed with the case have gone missing from court files — a development some legal observers believe is no coincidence.
Bushiri's lawyers have argued in court that the disappearance of the papers is not just a bureaucratic mishap but a deliberate obstruction that could halt the entire extradition process. Meanwhile, Bushiri has continued to enjoy warm relations with Malawi's political elite. He has received praise from senior government officials, including the Minister of Civic Education and National Unity, who also recently honoured Bushiri's wife for her 'positive role in national development.'
While the extradition effort stalls, new controversy has erupted in South Africa involving Bushiri's former financial officer, Landiwe Ntlokwana. The 42-year-old chartered accountant was once closely involved in managing the finances of the Enlightened Christian Gathering Church and Bushiri's now-infamous Commodities Trading Platform, which prosecutors allege was used to defraud investors of millions.
Initially arrested alongside Bushiri in 2021, Ntlokwana maintained her innocence and kept a low profile for years. But in a sudden turn, she has now submitted an affidavit indicating she intends to cooperate with the prosecution. The detailed statement outlines how she joined Bushiri's organisation, believing in his mission, and became part of the administration team behind the church's financial schemes.
The civil society group Right to Justice has called on prosecutors to formally charge Ntlokwana with perjury and obstruction. The group says her decision to come forward now — after remaining silent for four years — is both suspicious and potentially damaging to the integrity of the legal process.
'It is deeply concerning that she remained silent all this time,' said Siphesihle Jele, the group's chairperson. 'Now, she wants to flip the script. We believe she withheld crucial information, and only revealed it now when it suits her.'
Jele added that if Ntlokwana is using her testimony as a way to escape prosecution while implicating others, she should be investigated thoroughly.
Legal experts point out that under Section 204 of the Criminal Procedure Act, an accused person can be granted immunity if their testimony significantly contributes to a conviction. But Right to Justice argues that Ntlokwana's sudden cooperation could be a calculated move to avoid jail.
Her credibility will now be under intense scrutiny. Prosecutors will need to weigh the value of her insider knowledge against the risk of relying on someone who, until recently, was also under criminal investigation.
Meanwhile, Bushiri remains defiant. In recent social media posts, he dismissed his critics as 'jealous politicians' and claimed that his church had created thousands of jobs while uplifting the poor.
With extradition efforts faltering and a key former insider now under fire, the case surrounding Bushiri continues to grow more complex and more political.